The One-Cent Magenta: Inside the Quest to Own the Most Valuable Stamp in the World

The collection of rare items is oft regarded as a symbol of prestige and power. A simple 19th-century stamp, which cost a penny when it was issued, became the most expensive stamp ever printed when it sold at auction in 2014 for $9.5 million. Author James Barron traces the one-cent magenta’s humble origins to 19th-century British Guiana and explores the colorful characters—from Parisian aristocracy to American industrialists—who coveted it.

In collaboration with the New-York Historical Society, the Bryant Park Reading Room presents a series of free lectures on popular topics including the Supreme Court, the Cold War, presidential biography, and more.











When: Wed., Jul. 5, 2017 at 7:00 pm
Where: Bryant Park/Bryant Park Reading Room
Between 40th & 42nd Sts. and Fifth and Sixth Aves.

Price: Free
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The collection of rare items is oft regarded as a symbol of prestige and power. A simple 19th-century stamp, which cost a penny when it was issued, became the most expensive stamp ever printed when it sold at auction in 2014 for $9.5 million. Author James Barron traces the one-cent magenta’s humble origins to 19th-century British Guiana and explores the colorful characters—from Parisian aristocracy to American industrialists—who coveted it.

In collaboration with the New-York Historical Society, the Bryant Park Reading Room presents a series of free lectures on popular topics including the Supreme Court, the Cold War, presidential biography, and more.

Buy tickets/get more info now